Phrasal Verbs about Pandemics

Phrasal verbs often Be aware that many of

include another these phrasal verbs
preposition if they take also have other
an object. meanings.

Phrasal Verb Mix and Match

Connect each of the phrasal verbs below with the correct definition.

1) air out a) to endure adversity (in good spirits)

2) bear up b) to start showing symptoms of an illness

3) break out c) to be confined in a small area

4) call off d) to ventilate, to open doors and windows to refresh a room

5) catch out e) for time to move very slowly

6) come down with f) to cancel

7) coop up g) for an epidemic or pandemic to begin

8) do without h) to become depressed or sad

9) drag on i) to not go near, maintain a distance

10) fit out (with) j) to take by surprise while unprepared

11) get down k) to consume all of something

12) keep away (from) l) to survive or manage despite a lack of something

13) lay off m) to recover from something bad and survive

14) lead astray n) to equip

15) listen up o) to confine people to one place

16) lock down p) to convince people to believe something that isn’t not true

17) pull through q) to pay attention

18) run out (of) r) to dismiss people from their jobs for economic reasons

LET’S PLAY BINGO!

 Phrasal Verbs about Pandemics

air out bear up break out call off catch out come down with coop up do without drag on
fit out get down keep away lay off lead astray listen up lock down pull through run out

Insert the phrasal verbs that fit best into the gaps in the sentences below.
You will need to conjugate them appropriately.

1) The government has asked people to ________ _______ from each other during the state of
emergency and maintain a distance of at least 2 metres.

2) The government has decided to ________ the country ______and confine everybody to their homes.

3) Many countries have been ________ _______ and were not prepared for a virus that was so
contagious.

4) We need to do something entertaining and fun to stop us from ________ _______ or going
completely stir crazy after being in the same place for more than a month.

5) There isn’t any more wine. Oh well! We will have to ________ _______ until it’s time to go shopping
again.

6) My wife is a doctor and she told me households that have large families should open windows and
________ _______ all the rooms in the morning in case somebody has a cold or virus.

7) We were very frightened when my father caught the virus but were so relieved when he ________
_______ and made a complete recovery.

8) After the second week of quarantine, the days really seemed to ________ _______. Thankfully, I had
lots of books to read and plenty of TV shows to catch up on.

9) There are 9 people all ________ _______ together in the flat over the road from us. I don’t know how
they can cope with each other for so long in such a small space.

10) I need to go to the supermarket because we have ________ _______ of wine.

11) The country needs to ________ _______ and take note of what the scientists and medical
professionals are saying during the pandemic.

12) There needs to be some kind of law against people who post fake news about the virus online to
_________ people ________. This kind of activity could cost lives.

13) The disease first ________ _______ in China before it spread to the rest of the world.

14) My wife is a doctor and had to self-isolate when she started to ________ ________ _______
symptoms of the virus which she could have caught from her patients.

15) When the government announced the emergency measures, my company had to ________
_______ the majority of the workers. It has promised to give everybody their jobs back when the
quarantine has finished.

16) The leading medical officer in the country has demanded that the country’s hospitals be ________
_______ with ventilators and the appropriate protective clothing and equipment.

17) We had to ________ _______ our holiday in the UK when the outbreak first started.

18) The family has been confined to their home for nearly 6 weeks now but they are ________ _______
pretty well. In fact, they seem to be quite happy.
 Life in Quarantine
Insert the phrasal verbs that fit best into the gaps in the story below.
You will need to conjugate the verbs appropriately.

air out bear up break out call off catch out come down with coop up do without drag on
fit out get down keep away lay off lead astray listen up lock down pull through run out

Ever since the government _________ _______ this country and told everybody to stay at
home, unless shopping for essential groceries or going to work at key jobs, the general public has
surprised itself, and the powers that be, by showing an almost complete willingness to comply with
the emergency laws. What is more, the majority of the public seem to be _________ _______ pretty
cheerfully despite what psychologists have deemed to be very stressful conditions. Many people
crowd onto balconies at 8pm every night to applaud key workers and to show their appreciation of
the people and services that society clearly cannot _________ _______.
This spirit of community has surprised and even shocked some. There has been some anger,
particularly from those workers who were _________ _______at the beginning of the emergency,
but the overall attitude has been one of cooperation. Leading mental health experts were expecting
the conditions to _________ people ________, and there have been cases of severe depression but
nowhere near the numbers expected. Large households have shown extraordinary resilience despite
people being _________ _______ for so long in such close proximity to each other.
The few times that the general public have been forced to come out and mix with each
other have also demonstrated remarkable self-discipline. When households _________ _______ of
essential supplies, only one resident is sent to the supermarket to buy the provisions. When queuing
in the supermarket lines, everybody seems to observe social distancing rules and _________ two
metres __________ from each other. Very few seem to have been _________ _______ by ridiculous
conspiracy theories despite there being a plethora of them on social media.
When the epidemic first _________ _______ in this country, it is true that many did not
really take the threat too seriously and were not really prepared. The authorities and the health
service were _________ _______ badly, and it looked as if the resources and infrastructure would
be overwhelmed by the speed and intensity of the contagion. Politicians did not appear to
_________ _______ and take heed of the advice being offered by WHO and other health
organisations, at first. But then it hit home. Everybody seemed to get what was happening all at once.
However, there is one aspect of all this that is really starting to cause problems, boredom. To
many of us, the days seem to just _________ _______, with one day seeming pretty much like any
other. So many events have been _________ _______, and being restricted to the home does not
give people many options for enjoyment. Opening a window to _________ _______a room is the
only contact some people have with the outside world aside from taking out the rubbish or shopping.
But although all of this is mind-numbingly boring, let us not forget just why the quarantine exists in
the first place.
Many people who have _________ _______ ________ the virus have said that it was truly
awful and one of the worst illnesses they have ever experienced. Some feared that they would not
_________ _______ and, indeed, many have died as a result of this disease. Thankfully, hospitals
have been _________ _______ with specialist equipment and are in a better position than they
would be in a lot of other countries to deal with the emergency. So, for the meantime, the best thing
anybody can do to help their community and their country is to stay home.
 Quarantine Rules and Morale Debate
You live in a tower block in a city in East Anglia, England. There is a quarantine in place
because of a viral outbreak in your region. There has been some argument about the
implementation of some of the rules in the tower block that you live in. Read the memo
below and then read your personality card. After that, attend the online meeting and
debate what the committee should do next regarding the issue at hand. Each person
should spend at least 1 minute stating their opinion and a further 5 minutes debating
what should be done once everybody has had their say. A vote must be taken at the end.

Walton Towers Residents’ Association

To: All residents
From: Chair of Residents Association
Date: 05/04/2020
Re: Lockdown rules

Dear committee members,

Since the implementation by the government of the national emergency quarantine order a week ago, many
residents are in a quandary as to how this translates to communal living. As such, it has been decided that we need
to meet and thrash out a of set of rules that we can abide by as a community.

Some people have expressed concern at the unnecessary use of lifts in the buildings and would like to declare
them out-of-bounds except for those that live on the 3rd floor or above, excluding residents who are disabled or are
above the age of retirement. Others have expressed concern over the use of common areas, such as the main ground
floor patio or roof area for working out by some residents. There has also been some concern at the walking of dogs
within these same communal spaces by elder residents and mention of the dumping of rubbish in communal bins
instead of the proper rubbish receptacles in the street.

Clearly we need to establish to rules and boundaries. I would love to hear your ideas but we do need to
address the question of communal areas for exercise and recreation. Some of us have also raised the idea of morale-
boosting activities. So far, people have put forward a daily workout or dance class that can be given from the
communal patio with participants taking part from their balconies. A drama workshop could be given in the same
manner, plus language, cookery, or DIY classes which can be given via communal video conferencing platforms.

The meeting will take place next Monday on the usual platform.

Yours sincerely
Richard Grimes
Chair

Indicate whether the statements below are true or false.

1. The residents are confused by the rules about communal areas. True□ False□

2. The residents’ association want to establish a stricter quarantine in the building. True□ False□

3. Some residents would like to restrict the use of elevators. True□ False□

4. Some residents have been doing their jobs in communal areas. True□ False□

5. Some residents have been throwing trash in the communal areas. True□ False□

6. Some residents want advice about health. True□ False□

7. Some residents have suggested different workshops to keep everybody happy. True□ False□
 Phrasal Verbs about Pandemics

air out bear up break out call off catch out come down with coop up do without drag on
fit out get down keep away lay off lead astray listen up lock down pull through run out

Insert the phrasal verbs that fit best into the gaps in the story below.
You will need to conjugate the verbs appropriately.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

IN PAIRS CREATE A GAP-FILL EXERCISE FOR THE 18 PHRASAL

VERBS IN THE BOX AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE.
 Lock-down Debate – Personality Cards
You are a resident of Walton Towers and also a You are a resident of Walton Towers and
retired doctor. You think that everybody also an ex-police officer. You think that it’s
should be kept away from communal areas fine to use the communal areas for
unless they are just passing through. The risk exercise as long as people are wearing
to everybody in the tower block by people
gloves and masks and can maintain a safe
touching things in communal areas is high,
judging by what you have heard. Furthermore, distance. However, you think that people
you think people in communal areas should using the lift who are fit enough to take
wear masks and gloves. You are, however, in the stairs are a danger and should be
favour of fitness classes given from the patio. reported to the authorities.

You are a resident of Walton Towers and You are a resident of Walton Towers and
also a language teacher. You are also an also a health and safety officer for the
environmental campaigner. You believe local authority. From what you understand
that people using the lifts unnecessarily about the virus, you believe that people
are using too much electricity and should not use communal areas for no
therefore are harming the environment. other reason than to pass through to go
You favour installing cameras to monitor outside. You don’t think that anybody
the lifts and anybody using them should be should be in the central patio for any
prosecuted. You would be very happy to reason whatsoever.
volunteer to give language classes.

You are a resident of Walton Towers and You are a resident of Walton Towers and
also a former soldier. You can’t see any also a dietician. You think that it is
problem with using the central patio for disgraceful that people are still using the
exercise if people wear protection. You lifts. Breathing in confined spaces can
would also be happy to give gym classes to spread diseases according to some books
the older residents for free in an effort to you have read. You are not too worried
boost morale. You have problems with about people using the central patio to
your knees and have to use the lifts to get exercise if they wear gloves and masks.
down stairs but you have no problems You would be happy to volunteer to give
going up stairs. cookery classes online.

You are a resident of Walton Towers and also a You are a resident of Walton Towers and
political activist. You suspect the whole also an alien from another planet. You
quarantine is a trick by the government. You have been sent to earth to try and take
have heard rumours that the government are control of the planet. The quarantine is a
not really human but are in fact aliens who are
giant conspiracy by your species to do just
set on world domination. You don’t think there
is any problem with anybody in the building that. You think that everybody should stay
using the central patio, as long as they are not inside and not go out so that your
aliens or members of the government. compatriots can go about your business
unhindered.

You are a resident of Walton Towers and You are a resident of Walton Towers and
also an owner of a gym. You think that also a bus driver. You have to go to work
nobody should use the central patio or the every day and are terrified that you will
spaces on the roof for exercise although get the virus. You think that all communal
you would be happy to volunteer to give areas should be restricted except for the
gym sessions from the central patio to the right of passage. You are not interested in
other residents. You think the lifts should doing any online classes. You are too tired
not be used by people who live above the from all the shifts you have been working
2nd floor. to drive key workers to their jobs.

CHOOSE ONE OF THE PERSONALITY CARDS ABOVE AND THEN USE THIS AS
YOUR MOTIVATION DURING THE ROLE-PLAY.
Phrasal Verbs Bingo Game
Cut out and place the definition slips in a cup or envelope. Cut out the bingo cards and give to the students. Take a definition
slip from the cup one at a time and read the definition. Students tick off the corresponding phrasal verbs. Once a student has
crossed out 5 words on a card they shout “bingo” and the round starts again with fresh cards. Repeat the process 3 times.

Definition Slips
air out = bear up = break out = call off = catch out =
to ventilate, open to endure adversity (in for an epidemic or to cancel to take by surprise
windows or doors to good spirits) pandemic to begin while unprepared
refresh a room
come down with = coop up = do without = drag on = fit out =
to start showing symptoms to be confined in a to survive or for time to move to equip
of an illness small area manage despite a very slowly
lack of something
get down = keep away = lay off = lead astray = listen up =
to become depressed or to not go near, to dismiss people to convince to pay attention
sad maintain a distance from their jobs for people to believe
economic reasons something that
isn’t not true
lock down = pull through = run out =
to confine people to one recover from to consume all of
place something bad and something
survive

Bingo Cards Bingo Cards

air out call off do without lay off

bear up come down

with
come down keep away fit out coop up
with

pull through drag on do without coop up

do without air out
call off come down catch out bear up
with
drag on fit out
fit out bear up
pull through
break out
lay off keep away
drag on catch out
call off do without
lay off bear up
lead astray
break out
lock down run out
lead astray do without
run out coop up
listen up pull through lead astray
air out lock down break out
lay off coop up
call off get down
bear up drag on coop up
lock down bear up pull through
keep away fit out
come down do without
lead astray lock down with
listen up
get down
air out coop up
call off run out

catch out lead astray

lock down come down
with drag on
lay off listen up get down
get down coop up
 Answers

Phrasal Verb Mix and Match

Connect each of the phrasal verbs below with the correct definition.
1) air out a) to endure adversity (in good spirits)

2) bear up b) to start showing symptoms of an illness

3) break out c) to be confined in a small area

4) call off d) to ventilate, to open doors and windows to refresh a room

5) catch out e) for time to move very slowly

6) come down with f) to cancel

7) coop up g) for an epidemic or pandemic to begin

8) do without h) to become depressed or sad

9) drag on i) to not go near, maintain a distance

10) fit out with j) to take by surprise while unprepared

11) get down k) to consume all of something

12) keep away (from) l) to survive or manage despite a lack of something

13) lay off m) to recover from something bad and survive

14) lead astray n) to equip

15) listen up o) to confine people to one place

16) lock down p) to convince people to believe something that isn’t not true

17) pull through q) to pay attention

18) run out (of) r) to dismiss people from their jobs for economic reasons

Answers
1) = d)
2) = a)
3) = g)
4) = f)
5) = j)
6) = b)
7) = c)
8) = l)
9) = e)
10) = n)
11) = h)
12) = i)
13) = r)
14) = p)
15 = q)
16) = o)
17) = m)
18) = k)
 Answers

1) The government has asked people to keep away from each other during the state of emergency and
maintain a distance of at least 2 metres.

2) The government has decided to lock the country down and confine everybody to their homes.

3) Many countries have been caught out and were not prepared for a virus that was so contagious.

4) We need to do something entertaining and fun to stop us from getting down or going completely stir
crazy after being in the same place for more than a month.

5) There isn’t any more wine. Oh well! We will have to do without until it’s time to go shopping again.

6) My wife is a doctor and she told me households that have large families should open windows and air
out all the rooms in the morning in case somebody has a cold or virus.

7) We were very frightened when my father caught the virus but were so relieved when he pulled
through and made a complete recovery.

8) After the second week of quarantine, the days really seemed to drag on. Thankfully, I had lots of books
to read and plenty of TV shows to catch up on.

9) There are 9 people all cooped up together in the flat over the road from us. I don’t know how they can
cope with each other for so long in such a small space.

10) I need to go to the supermarket because we have run out of wine.

11) The country needs to listen up and take note of what the scientists and medical professionals are
saying during the pandemic.

12) There needs to be some kind of law against people who post fake news about the virus online to lead
people astray. This kind of activity could cost lives.

13) The disease first broke out in China before it spread to the rest of the world.

14) My wife is a doctor and had to self-isolate when she started to come down with symptoms of the
virus which she could have caught from her patients.

15) When the government announced the emergency measures, my company had to lay off the majority
of the workers. It has promised to give everybody their jobs back when the quarantine has finished.

16) The leading medical officer in the country has demanded that the country’s hospitals be fitted out
with ventilators and the appropriate protective clothing and equipment.

17) We had to call off our holiday in the UK when the outbreak first started.

18) The family has been confined to their home for nearly 6 weeks now but they are bearing up pretty
well. In fact, they seem to be quite happy.
 Answers

Ever since the government locked down this country and told everybody to stay at home,
unless shopping for essential groceries or going to work at key jobs, the general public has surprised
itself, and the powers that be, by showing an almost complete willingness to comply with the
emergency laws. What is more, the majority of the public seem to be bearing up pretty cheerfully
despite what psychologists have deemed to be very stressful conditions. Many people crowd onto
balconies at 8pm every night to applaud key workers and to show their appreciation of the people
and services that society clearly cannot do without.
This spirit of community has surprised and even shocked some. There has been some anger,
particularly from those workers who were laid off at the beginning of the emergency, but the overall
attitude has been one of cooperation. Leading mental health experts were expecting the conditions
to get people down, and there have been cases of severe depression but nowhere near the numbers
expected. Large households have shown extraordinary resilience despite people being cooped up for
so long in such close proximity to each other.
The few times that the general public have been forced to come out and mix with each
other have also demonstrated remarkable self-discipline. When households run out of essential
supplies, only one resident is sent to the supermarket to buy the provisions. When queuing in the
supermarket lines, everybody seems to observe social distancing rules and keeps two metres away
from each other. Very few seem to have been led astray by ridiculous conspiracy theories despite
there being a plethora of them on social media.
When the epidemic first broke out in this country, it is true that many did not really take the
threat too seriously and were not really prepared. The authorities and the health service were caught
out badly, and it looked as if the resources and infrastructure would be overwhelmed by the speed
and intensity of the contagion. Politicians did not appear to listen up and take heed of the advice
being offered by WHO and other health organisations, at first. But then it hit home. Everybody
seemed to get what was happening all at once.
However, there is one aspect of all this that is really starting to cause problems, boredom. To
many of us, the days seem to just drag on, with one day seeming pretty much like any other. So many
events have been called off, and being restricted to the home does not give people many options for
enjoyment. Opening a window to air out a room is the only contact some people have with the
outside world aside from taking out the rubbish or shopping. But although all of this is mind-
numbingly boring, let us not forget just why the quarantine exists in the first place.
Many people who have come down with the virus have said that it was truly awful and one
of the worst illnesses they have ever experienced. Some feared that they would not pull through and,
indeed, many have died as a result of this disease. Thankfully, hospitals have been fitted out with
specialist equipment and are in a better position than they would be in a lot of other countries to
deal with the emergency. So, for the meantime, the best thing anybody can do to help their
community and their country is to stay home.
Walton Towers Residents’ Association
To: All residents
From: Chair of Residents Association
Date: 28/03/2020
Re: Lockdown rules

Dear committee members,

Since the implementation by the government of the national emergency quarantine order a week ago, many
residents are in a quandary as to how this translates to communal living. As such, it has been decided that we need
to meet and thrash out a of set of rules that we can abide by as a community.

Some people have expressed concern at the unnecessary use of lifts in the buildings and would like to declare
them out-of-bounds except for those that live on the 3rd floor or above, excluding residents who are disabled or are
above the age of retirement. Others have expressed concern over the use of common areas, such as the main ground
floor patio or roof area for working out by some residents. There has also been some concern at the walking of dogs
within these same communal spaces by elder residents and mention of the dumping of rubbish in communal bins
instead of the proper rubbish receptacles in the street.

Clearly we need to establish to rules and boundaries. I would love to hear your ideas but we do need to
address the question of communal areas for exercise and recreation. Some of us have also raised the idea of morale-
boosting activities. So far, people have put forward a daily workout or dance class that can be given from the
communal patio with participants taking part from their balconies. A drama workshop could be given in the same
manner, plus language, cookery, or DIY classes which can be given via communal video conferencing platforms.

The meeting will take place next Monday on the usual platform.

Yours sincerely
Richard Grimes
Chair

1. The residents are confused by the rules about communal areas. TRUE

2. The residents’ association want to establish a stricter quarantine in the building. FALSE

3. Some residents would like to restrict the use of elevators. TRUE

4. Some residents have been doing their jobs in communal areas. FALSE

5. Some residents have been throwing trash in the communal areas. FALSE (throwing out, not throwing)

6. Some residents want advice about health. FALSE

7. Some residents have suggested different workshops to keep everybody happy. TRUE

Vocabulary

in a quandary = confused or unable to decide.

thrash out = debate and decide
abide by = obey
expressed concern = said they are worried
working out = doing exercise
address the question = examine and debate a subject
morale-boosting activities = activities designed to keep people from getting depressed.
put forward = suggest
 Extra Cards

Bingo Cards
Bingo Cards do without call off

fit out call off come down

with
coop up air out bear up
come down keep away
with
listen up coop up
pull through drag on run out
do without catch out bear up
lay off lead astray
drag on catch out
air out coop up pull through
break out lay off do without
drag on catch out
call off do without
lay off bear up get down
run out lock down run out
lead astray catch out
catch out coop up

listen up
lead astray
pull through
lock down break out
air out
lay off coop up
lay off get down
lead astray
coop up drag on
lock down
bear up pull through
keep away listen up
come down lead astray
with
lead astray lock down get down
listen up air out coop up
call off drag on
catch out lead astray
lock down come down drag on
with
listen up lock down
call off
get down bear up
Pandemics FCE Practice Reading and Use of English
Part 4
For these questions complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence,
using the word given.
Do not change the word given. You must use between TWO and SIX words, INCLUDING the word given.
Here is an example (0).
Example:
0 We missed the first band because we arrived at the concert late.
GOT
We _________________ late so we didn’t see the first band.
The gap can be filled with the words ‘insisted on speaking’, so you write:

Example: 0 GOT TO THE CONCERT

Write only the missing words IN CAPITAL LETTERS on the separate answer sheet.

1 Many events were cancelled because of the outbreak.

OFF
The epidemic led to many ________________________________.

2 He was very sick indeed and the doctors were really surprised that he didn’t die.
THROUGH
The doctors were very surprised that ___________________________________________ given how
seriously ill he was.

3 Watching the news makes me depressed.

GETS
It really _____________________________________________ I watch the news.

4 The government has spent a lot of money to equip this hospital with the latest technology.
FITTING
___________________________________ the latest technology has cost the government a lot of money.

5 The local government imposed a strict confinement order on the population of the island
DOWN
The island was ____________________________________ order of the local government.

6 The newspaper responsible for publishing irresponsible stories was denounced for deceiving the public
ASTRAY
The public had ______________________________________ reckless articles publish in the newspaper.
 Answers
1 Many events were cancelled because of the outbreak.
OFF
The epidemic led to many EVENTS BEING CALLED OFF.

2 He was very sick indeed and the doctors were really surprised that he didn’t die.
THROUGH
The doctors were very surprised that HE PULLED THROUGH given how seriously ill he was.

3 Watching the news makes me depressed.

GETS
It really GETS ME DOWN WHEN I watch the news.

4 The government has spent a lot of money to equip this hospital with the latest technology.
FITTING
FITTING OUT THIS HOSPITAL WITH the latest technology has cost the government a lot of money.

5 The local government imposed a strict confinement order on the population of the island
DOWN
The island was LOCKED DOWN BY/ON THE order of the local government.

6 The newspaper responsible for publishing irresponsible stories was denounced for deceiving the public
ASTRAY
The public had BEEN LED ASTRAY BY reckless articles publish in the newspaper.